"His proper title is the Rev. Dr. Anthony Hutchinson, but you can call him "Father Tony."

Hutchinson is the senior pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ashland. He moved here last year from Beijing, China.

He was a diplomat for the U.S. Department of State for 25 years with an expertise in Chinese culture. He served as director of China analysis for the State Department as well as cultural counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for Ambassadors Jon Huntsman and Gary Locke.

In 2008, he was ordained in the Hong Kong Anglican Church, where he served as chaplain at St. John's Cathedral and professor of biblical languages and literatures at Ming Hua Theological Seminary. After that, he was an assisting pastor at the Congregation of the Good Shepherd in Beijing, China.

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, the rector will give a free presentation on progressive Christianity from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus.